WR AHMAREAN BROWN – 5-10, 170 LBS
Gamecocks need a proven ace in the slot with Shi Smith moving in the NFL. Brown’s addition certainly gives them the explosive ability to create games they need in 2021.
In 2020, Brown played seven games, starting all of them, and had just 11 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 16.6 yards per catch. As a freshman, he started 10 games and drew with the big Calvin Johnson of the Yellow Jackets, who received touchdowns from a freshman with seven. He had 396 yards receiving at 21 receptions, giving him an average of 18.9 yards per reception. Brown will have four years to play three seasons in South Carolina.
“He will help us immediately in the position of the receiver,” said Beamer. “It brings a little speed and great gameplay skills, which we definitely need out there on the perimeter.”
CB DAVID SPAULDING – 6-2, 185 LBS
No position group in South Carolina has been hit more by the NFL’s draft and transfer portal than the secondary. With initial curves Jaycee Horn, Israel Mukuamu and John Dixon out of the program, Gamecocks brought Spualding, who has length and some experience.
In 2020, he played in eight games, taking 45 defensive snaps. He recorded seven tackles with a pass separation and an interception. He will compete in the corner with Cam Smith and signatories of JUCO Marcellas Dial and Isaiah Norris (both come from Georgia Military College). He will have four years to play four seasons in South Carolina.
“Everyone in America is looking for some DBs of some size that can be run,” said Beamer. “Size, speed and length. He has it all. It will help us in another position of need, where we are short of numbers. “
LB DARRYL ‘DEBO’ WILLIAMS – 6-1, 210 LBS
Williams’ first university game will be in a Gamecocks uniform. He attended Delaware last year, but Blue Hens did not play football in the fall. In the same state, SeaShawn Lloyd caught Beamer’s attention for Williams when he entered the transfer portal. Williams was honored three times by the All-State and a four-year holder at Smyrna High School. He has accumulated almost 500 tackles in his career, including 153 tackles as a veteran.
With Ernest Jones leaving for the NFL, Sherrod Greene returning from injury and Mohamed Kaba with just one year of experience after an ACL injury in his senior year of high school, Williams is being seen as a great addition to the linebacker room for the new defensive coordinator Clayton White. Williams will have five years to play four seasons in South Carolina.
“He’s one of those guys who could be 18, or whatever, but he’s 18 and he’s going to be 22 for the way he behaves,” said Beamer. “He is all professional and will help us as a linebacker.”
OLB JORDAN STRACHAN – 6-2, 225 LBS
Strachan tied for first place on FBS with a GSU record of 10.5 sacks in 2020. His average 1.05 sacks per game is 7th on FBS (No. 4 among players with at least six games). He also broke the school record with 14.0 tackles per defeat (1.4 per game / second on Sun Belt).
Edge rusher is a strong point for Gamecocks towards 2021, but refusing someone who led the nation in bags in 2020 would not be wise. Strachan joins us as JJ Enagbare, Aaron Sterling, Brad Johnson, Jordan Burch and Tonka Hemingway like edge rushers. More suited to playing offline than defensive at the SEC, Strachan could be three years old to play three seasons if he signs up for a red medical shirt to cover the 2017 season he missed.
DT JAHKEEM GREEN – 6.5 320 LBS
When Keir Thomas decided to exchange South Carolina for the state of Florida, making it necessary to add experience within the defensive line. Beamer brought Green, a Sumter native, back to Nebraska. He originally tried to return home in 2019, after a stint in Highland CC’s third year, but was unable to apply due to academic obstacles. He will have two years to play two seasons in a Gamecocks uniform.
Green played five games in his second season in Nebraska, ending with three tackles. He made two tackles at the opening of Nebraska’s season at No. 5 Ohio State and added another tackle against Illinois.
QB JASON BROWN – 6-4, 230 LBS
Reduced to two quarterbacks with scholarships after matches Collin Hill and Ryan Hilinski, Gamecocks will bring Brown after an All-American season at the FCS level.
Brown became Saint Francis’ starting QB last season as a second-year redshirt, emerging as one of the best FCS QBs in the team’s last six games when he launched 1,878 yards and 20 touchdowns against three interceptions, completing 66% of his passes.
“I think I will have the opportunity to compete for the starting position,” Brown told 247Sports. “It won’t be easy and it will be a lot of work, but I will definitely be ready for that”.
WR EJ JENKINS – 6-8, 235 LBS
Jenkins has been playing football with Brown since the seventh grade and Gamecocks were one of the few schools that offered both, once they entered the transfer portal. At 1.80 m, Jenkins’ size at the perimeter or as a hybrid tight end is exactly what Gamecocks need. There is a certain length in the Gamecocks wide receiver room, but it is combined with a lot of inexperience.
Jenkins managed 39 passes for 779 yards and a school record of 13 touchdowns last season, giving the new wide receivers coach Justin Stepp a great body to work from the end of March, when the spring camp begins.